Truck bed winch assembly



Oct. 11, 1966 J. E. AKINs ETAL TRUCK BED WINCH ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 16, 1965 n m MUNILI s m mp5 m Y T/ f HA .M W 4 v-J r N M l of El i \N m W HH MI llllll ll .Q L; w m .I1 411| ||||I|lI/|/|.\|| -H mmv. IT l .i IIIIIIIIHHT. lll |41! I Ilmm. w m `||II| NM www f5 Ml m W .Q Nm. Vlvlllllld. wN w f lllll ll|\ ::z: N| .q'HNJhNI Oct. 1l, 1966 J. E. AKlNs ETAL.

TRUCK BED WINCH ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets--SheeiI 2 Filed July 16, 1965 se n www *W m., myn m Awww vf NA y R n JNM United States Patent Oli-"ice 3,278,162 Patented Oct. 11, 1966 3,278,162 TRUCK BED WINCH ASSEMBLY John E. Akins, Mound, and Jerry I. Jerabek, Lester Prairie, Minn., assignors to E. R. Schwartz Manufacturing Co., Lester Prairie, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed July 16, 1965, Ser. No. 472,475 Claims. (Cl. 254-189) This invention is directed to a new land novel truck bed piston cylinder winch apparatus. More particularly this invention is directed to a piston cylinder winch assembly having at least a 3 to 1 cable ratio and novel apparatus for preventing tangling of the cable runs as the cable runs are moved to an extended position by the piston cylinder combination, `and the piston cylinder combination is subsequently retracted with .the cable left in a cable run extended condition.

It is old to provide a piston cylinder combination operated winch assembly having 2 to 1 cable ratio on structure such as truck beds. However, in attempting to utilize a 3 -to 1 cable run ratio, problems are encountered, particularly when it is desired to utilize a piston cylinder combination for moving the runs to an extended condition, thence retract the piston cylinder combination while leaving the runs in an extended condition, `and subsequently thro-ugh a .pulling force on the free end of the cable, retract the extended runs. One of the problems encountered is the strong tendency of the runs of the cable tangling, especially when the runs are extended in a generally horizontal direction or at an inclined angle.

'In order to overcome problems of the aforementioned nature, this invention has been made.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide new and novel piston cylinder operated winch apparatus for structure such as truck beds. Another object of this invention is to provide new and novel piston cylinder operated winch apparatus that has a 3 to 1 calble run ratio wherein the cable runs are left in the extended condition when the piston cylinder combination is retracted.

An additional object of -this invention is to provide a new novel and housing for piston cylinder winch apparatus to prevent tangling of the cable runs when the cable runs are moved from an extended position to a retracted condition independent of the operation of the piston cylinder combination. Still another object of this invention is to provide new and novel piston cylinder winch apparatus for moving the cable runs from a retracted to an extended condition to retract Ithe free end of the cable, and at the same time provide a better balance of forces `exerted on the remainder of the assembly by the cable runs when the'cable runs are moved between a retracted and extended condition to pull a load onto a supporting member.

Other and further objects are those inherent in the invention herein illustrated, described and claimed, and will be apparent as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this invention then comprises 4the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments, these being indicative, however, are but a few of the various ways in which the principles of this invention may be employed,

The invention is illustrated with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of truck having a truck bed and showing the winch apparatus of this invention in a piston cylinder retracted condition with the free run of the cable extended over truck bed in position to be connected to the diagrammatically illustrated load for moving the load toward the truck bed;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical view, part in cross sectioned, generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1 t-o show the mounting of the piston rod cable housing on the truck bed, the cable runs and pulley sheave sub-assembly not being shown;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view, part in cross section, generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrow 3-3 of FIG. 1 to illustrate the mounting of the cylinder sheave housing on the truck bed;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the truck bed Winch assembly of this invention in a piston rod sheave, cable run extended condition;

FIG. 5 is a' view similar to FIG. 4 showing the cable runs in an extended condition but with the piston rod sheave retracted;

FIG. 6 is a further enlarged vertical cross sectional view generally taken along the line 'and in the direction of .the arrows 6 6 of FIG. 4 to show a cross section of the cable housing and the structure connected -to the piston rod for moving the cable runs to an extended condition; and

FIG. 7 is a further enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the pist-on rod pulley sub-assembly in an exploded condition.

Referring now in particular to FIG. l there is in part illustrated a truck, generally designated 10, having a cab 11, rear wheels 12, 'a chassis 13 and a truck bed, generally designated 14, mounted on the chassis. The truck bed may be of :a conventional type such as illustrated in U.S. Patent 3,066,816 which is pivotally attached lto the rear portion of the 4frame for movement from a horizontal condition to an incline condition; or advantageously may be mounted on a sub-frame (not shown) that in turn is pivotally mounted on ythe chassis whereby the truck bed may roll back relative to the sub-frame and at the same time be moved Ibetween a horizontal and an inclined condition. The truck bed winch apparatus of this invention, generally designated 15, is mounted on the truck bedfor movement therewith, and relative to the truck chassis, assuming the truck bed is of a construction to be movable relative to the truck chassis.

The truck bed 14 includes a pair of parallel, longitudinally elongated channels 17, a rear transverse channel 18, a front transverse channel 19 and one or more intermediate transverse channels (not shown), each of the aforementioned transverse channels extending between and secured to the longitudinal channels 17--17. A platform floor 21 is attached to the transverse channels. A short distance transversely rearwardly of the transverse channel 19, there is provided a mounting member 2l) having a first vertical portion 20a extending between longitudinal channels 17, an intermediate horizontal portion 20b extending rearwardly of portion 20a, and an upright portion 20c joined to the rearward transverse edge of portion 20b.

A pair of rearwardly extending lugs 23 are welded to portion 20a, lugs 23 mounting a pivot shaft 24 that is extended through apertures 2S (see FIG. 4) located in the forward end portion of the cylinder sheave housing 26 of the winch apparatus of this invention. Thus, the housing 26 is pivotable about a transverse horizontal axis relative the truck. bed. Within housing 26 there is a sheave 52 that is rotatably mounted by shaft 53 which in turn is mounted by the central portions of the top and bottom walls of housing 26.

The housing 26 is of a rectangular tubular construction in transverse section and has its rearward edges welded to the front end wall of the cylinder 27 such that the housing extends horizontally transversely outwardly on opposite diametric sides of the cylinder. The forward end of the cylinder is welded to a channel end bracket 29 which in turn is bolted or otherwise appropriately attached to the forward end of the cable housing 30. The opposite end of the cable housing has a right angle bracket 31 welded thereto, bracket 31 in turn being bolted to the depending bracket 33 which in turn is welded to the cross-channel 18 to depend therefrom. The angle bracket 31 closes the rearward open end of housing 30.

The piston cylinder combination, which is a two way acting combination, also includes a piston rod 35 having a piston (not shown) on the end thereof most closely adjacent the cylinder sheave housing 26. The opposite end of the piston rod is movably extended through a boss 37 provided on the bracket 29, and is keyed or otherwise attached to the piston rod hub 38 of the piston rod sheave sub-assembly, generally designated 39 (see FIG. 7). Forward axial end portions of the piston rod hub are welded to the lower slide plate 40 while an upper circumferential portion is welded to block 41. The upper edge of the block is welded to the upper slide plate 42. The slide plates 40, 42 are generally rectangular in shape and are held in parallel spaced relationship, in part due to the hub 38 and block 41.

A pulley sheave 44 of the same diameter as sheave 52 is journaled for rotation on a shaft 45 such that when the truck bed is in a generally horizontal, transport position, the sheave is rotatable about a vertical axis. The shaft at opposite ends is mounted by the slide plates 40, 42 with the sheave between said plates.

Referring in particular to FIGURES 6 and 7, the subassembly 39 also includes a lug 47 that at its upper edge is welded to the bottom surface of slide plate 40, and has its opposite edge welded to an axially elongated anchor sleeve 48 such that the central axis of the anchor sleeve is parallel to the piston rod 35. As viewed in FIG. 6, the anchor sleeve is located adjacent the right hand edge portion of the bottom slide plate.

The piston rod sub-assembly is mounted in the cable housing 30 for slidable movement from adjacent the bracket 29 to adjacent the bracket 31. Accordingly, the housing is of an elongated length that when the piston rod moves from a retracted position of FIG. 6 to the full extended position of FIG. 4, it will accommodate the movement of the sub-assembly 39 therein. As may be noted from FIG. the housing has parallel sidewalls 30a, 30b, a top wall 30e extending between said side walls, and a bottom wall portion 30d that at one longitudinal edge is joined to sidewall 30a and at the opposite longitudinal edge is joined to one edge of the V trough portion 30e. The opposite longitudinal edge of the trough portion 30e is joined to a bottom wall portion 30j. The bottom wall portion 30jc in conjunction with the bottom wall portion 30g provides a longitudinal slot 50 that extends the longitudinal length of the housing 30 from bracket 29 to bracket 31. The edge of portion 30g opposite slot 50 is joined to the bottom edge of the side wall 30d and to the top edge of the side wall 30m, the lower edge of 30m being joined to bottom wall 30k which at its opposite edge is joined to the upright side wall 30j. The side wall 30]' has an upper edge closely adjacent to juncture of the trough 40e with bottom wall portion 30]. As a result, the housing 30 provides two cable run compartments, the first rectangular compartment comprising wall portions 30a, 3Gb, 30C, 30d, 30e, 30f, and 39g, and a second cable run compartment formed by wall portions 30g, 30j, 30j, 30k, and 30m. The piston rod sheave sub-assembly is of construction that the slide plates 40, 42, and block 41, piston rod hub 39, and the pulley sheave 44 are located -in the rst housing compartment, the anchor sleeve 48 is located in the second housing compartment, and the lug 47 extends downwardly through the slot 50.

There is also provided a winch cable 58. Even though the lengths of the cable runs referred hereinafter vary in length from, for example, the piston rod sub-assembly 39 retracted position shown in FIG. 1 to the piston rod extended position where said sub-assembly isjas shown in FIG. 4, the same reference number designation is utilized for the same run regardless of whether the specific run is in the piston rod extended position or a piston rod retracted position of said figures. The cable 58 includes a rst run 58a that at its one end has an axially elongated tubular anchor 59, the outside diameter of the anchor being such that the anchor forms a loose sliding t within the second compartment of the cable run housing. The cable run 58a extends forwardly from the anchor 59 (within the second housing compartment), passes through the anchor sleeve 48, thence through the aperture 29a of the bracket 29 and thence forwardly through aperture 60a in a cable guide 60. As may be noted from FIGS. 4 and 5, the cable guide 60 is located approximately midway between the cylinder sheave housing 26 and the bracket 29, and is clamped to cylinder 27. The run 68a extends forwardly of :the cable guide and thence partially around the cylinder sheave 52 (which is of a larger diameter than the cylinder) where it is integrally joined to the forward end of the second cable run 58h. Run 58b extends around the remaining portion of the sheave 52, nex-t rearwardly through aperture 60h in cable guide 60 on the opposite side of the cylinder from aperture 60a, thence through end bracket aperture 2917 into the first compartment of housing 30 and then partially around pulley sheave 44 to be integrally joined to the third cable run 58e. The cable run 58C extends around `the remaining portion of sheave 44 and thence forwardly through end plate aperture 29C, then through guide plate aperture 60C, thence forwardly and upwardly above the cylinder housing 26 to pass through the slot 20d of the mounting bracket 20, and nally partially around the 4truck bed sheave 62.

The sheave 62 is journaled for rotation on the side of cross brace portion 20a opposite housing 26 by a horizontal shaft 63 that is secured in the leg portions of a bracket 64 which is generally U shaped in horizontal cross section. The web of the bracket 64 is welded to the transverse mounting base portion 20a. As a result, the sheave `62 is located longitudinally intermediate members 19 and 20 and closely adjacent the front end portion of the truck bed. Further, the sheave 62 is of a diameter that at its lowermost portion extends to a lower elevation than the top edge of the slot 20d, and has an upper portion extending upwardly through the floor opening 21a.

Again referring to cable 68, the cable has a free run (load end attaching run) 58d that at one end is partially extended around sheave 62 to be integrally joined to run 58C and outwardly through the floor opening 21a to extend across the top of the truck bed, and at its free end has an appropriate hook 66 for attaching the cable to a load 65 which is to Ibe pulled toward the cab of the truck by the winch apparatus of this invention. For example, load 65 may be any type of farm equipment that is to be pulled up onto the truck `bed when it s in an inclined loading position, the cable 58 having a 3 to 1 cable ratio.

The piston cylinder combination, the cylinder sheave 52, and the piston rod sheave sub-assembly are of a construction to give a balanced loading in both a horizontal and a vertical direction. For the purposes of facilitating the description of this feature, it is to be assumed that the runs 58a, 58b, and 58e are under tension and that only the straight lengths of the respective run will be referred to. Also it will be assumed that the axes of sheaves 53 and 44 are vertical. On the basis of the preceding assumption, the central horizontal axes of cable run 58C is substantially directly above the axis cable run 58a and spaced therefrom by a dimension M, while the primary exertion of force from the piston rod to the pulley sheave assembly is exerted on the lower slide plate which is at an elevation of approximately half way between the axes of runs 518C, 58a. In this connection note that due to the provision of the V trough, the piston rod extends to a substantially lower elevation than the slide plate 40 which slides on wall portions 30d, 30g. Additionally, in order to horizontally balance the forces imposed by the cable runs on the sub-assembly 39, the central axis of the piston rod is located horizontally twothirds of the distance of the central axisl of run 58h to run 58C as is the central longitudinal axis of the cylinder 27 relative to the straight length portions of said runs adjacent housing 26. That is the dimension N from the run 5-8bl to the central axis of the piston rod is twothirds of the dimension P from the horizontal axis of the straight portion run 5=8b to the corresponding axis of run 58C. Likewise, the vertical spacing between apertures 29a, 29e and 60a, 60e is a dimension M while the horizontal spacing between apertures 29b and 29a, 29C, and 6tlb, 6011,60!) is a dimension P.

Still based upon the assumptions set forth in the preceding paragraph, the cylinder sheave 52 is located at a slightly lower elevation than sheave 44 by a dimension approximately equal to one-third of dimension M, the top wall of housing 26 being .attached to the cylinder end wall closely adjacent the horizontal diameter of the cylinder. The apertures in the end bracket 29 are vertically positioned so that runs 53a, 58h do not deflect in extending between sheaves 44, S2 in a tensioned conditioned.

The structure of the invention having been described, the use thereof will now be set forth. In the normal transport condition when the truck is to be driven to pick up a load, or is carrying a load the cylinder has air or oil under pressure -applied thereto through line 24 adjacent housing 26 whereby the piston rod is in an extended position of FIG. 4 to locate the piston rod sheave assembly closely adjacent the end plate 31. At this time the hook 66 overlays the truck bed oor 21 at a location closely adjacent sheave 62.

At the time that the winch apparatus of this invention is to be utilized for pulling a load in a forward direction toward sheave 62, through appropriate controls (not shown) air or oil is exhausted from line 24 and air under pressure is applied to the cylinder through line 25, which is adjacent housing 30, whereby the piston rod and subassembly 39 is retracted from adjacent angle bracket 31 to la position closely adjacent the front end bracket 29. Since conventional wire cable is utilized and is somewhat stifff during the time the sub-assembly 39 is retracted, there is insufficient force acting on the cable runs tending to retract said cable runs. Accordingly, the looped end portion (joined ends of runs 58h, 58e) is left in the first housing compartment adjacent the rear angle bracket 31. Further, the dimension P is sufficiently great that even though there is some flexing of runs 58b, 58C the substantially straight length portions thereof within the housing 30 are sufficiently separated that there is no danger of tangling of the aforementioned run portions 58h, 58e. Further, since the transverse width of the slot 50 is less than the diameter of the cable, the portions of runs 50c, 50a within the housing do not Contact one another and accordingly, cannot become tangled.

Even though the -anchor sleeve 48 forms a somewhat close sliding fit lwith run 58a, during the time that it is retracted from the FIG. 4 position to the FIG. 5 position, no substantial retraction of run 58a takes place due to the provision of the anchor 59 and the stiffness of the oable.

. After the retraction of the piston rod sheave assembly 39 to the FIG. 6 position wherein the cable is still loosely laid out within the housing 30, the operator grabs the hook end of the free run 58d and thence pulls it in a rearward direction (arrow 70) toward the load. This pulling force is transmitted over the platform bed sheave `62 to run 58C and thereby retracts runs 58C, 58d to be Ilooped in abutting relationship with the piston rod sheave 44. Now, if further pulling force is exerted on run 58d, it is transmitted through runs 58e, S8b, and thence around cylinder sheave 52 to run 58a. Since a retracting force exerted on run 58a substantially passes in a straight line through aperture 29a and the aperture of the anchor sleeve and thence through the second compartment of the housing to the anchor, any previous cocking of the anchor is straightened and the anchor slides relatively easy through the housing until it abuts against the anchor sleeve 48. At this time the free run 58d of the cable -is at its maximum extended condition and can be easily hooked onto the load 65.

Assuming that hook 66 has been attached to load 65 and that truck bed platform is in condition to have the load slid thereonto (either through tilting the bed through appropriate controls or backing up to an appropriate heighth dock); through appropriate controls, air o-r oil is exhausted through line 25 and air or oil under pressure applied to the cylinder through line 24 to thereby move the piston rod (and sub-assembly 39) i-n the direction of the arrow `70 toward a piston rod extended condition. Since the anchor is of a larger diameter than the -cable opening thro-ugh the anchor sleeve, movement of the assembly 39 toward the rear langle 31 forces run `58a to be drawn toward said rear angle. To be mentioned is that at this time cable run 58a is under tension, and due tofthe anchor front circumferential edge being located in a vertical plane as is the adjacent edge of the anchor sleeve, the anchor is precluded from clocking land thereby prevented from binding in the second compartment of the housing as it is moved to the rear end of the housing. The continued application of air or oil under pressure through line 24 results in the free run 58d being shortened to thereby pull the load in the direction of the arrow 71. After the loa-d has been moved up onto the platform bed to the desired location (within the limits of the length of cable and piston rod stroke), the piston rod sheave subassembly 39 in a maximum extended condition will have again moved the runs of the cable to be located closely adjacent the rear angle 31 as shown in FIG. 4.

Through the provision of the above mentioned structure and with the winch apparatus in a condition of FIG. 6, one man can grab the hook of the cable and easily pull it to be attached to a load, there being no danger of binding or tangling of the cable due to the provision of the two housing compartments separating vertically adjacent runs of the cable. At the same time due to the provision of the 3 to l ratio, a longer free run 58d is obtainable, i.e. when the assembly 39 is moved one foot in the direction of the larrow 70 from the FIG. 1 position, the hook 66 is retracted in the direction of the arrow 71 three feet. Further, the vertically adjacent runs of the cable are held separated when the truck bed is in a tilted loading conditi-on or in a horizontal condition.

As many widely apparently different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the specific embodiments here- 1n.

What is claimed is:

1. Winch apparatus for pulling a load onto a support member comprising an axially elongated, two way acting piston cylinder combination, said combination including .a cylinder having la rst end and a second end and a piston r-od extending axially outwardly of said second end, means connected to the cylinder for mounting the cylinder on the support member, the above mentioned means including a cylinder sheave rotatably mounted a-t thelirst end of the cylinder, an axially elongated cable run housing having one end attached to the second end of the cylinder with the piston rod slidably extended thereon and an opposite end porti-on, means for attaching said housing to the support member, a pulley sheave subassembly slidably located within said housing for movement from one axial end of the housing t-o the other and having a piston rod sheave, said subassembly being connected to the end of the piston rod opposite the cylinder first end and a winch cable having one portion attachable with the load and an opposite cable end portion within the housing, said cable including a first run having said opposite cable end portion and extended partially around the cylinder sheave, a second run having one end joined to the first run adjacent the cylinder sheave and extended partially around the piston rod sheave and a third run having one end portion joined to the second run adjacent the piston rod sheave, thence extending toward the cylinder sheave and an opposite end joined to the load attachable portion, said sub-assembly and opposite cable end portion having cooperating means for moving said opposite cable end portion toward the housing opposite end portion as said sub-assembly is moved toward said housing opposite end portion to thereby move the cable load end portion toward the cylinder sheave.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said housing has first and second axially elongated cable run compartment and an axially elongated slot of a transverse dimension of the cable opening between the first and second compartments, said piston rod sheave being located in the first compartment and said cooperating means being located in the second compartment.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that said sub-assembly includes la slide plate in the first compartment, said cooperating means including an anchor sleeve having an axial opening .and slidably surrounding the first run, and an anchor attached t-o said cable opposite end portion to move therewith, said anchor being of a size and shape relative to the second compartment to abut against said anchor sleeve for moving said first run toward the housing opposite end as said sub-assembly is moved toward the housing opposite end and releasably hold said cable opposite end portion adjacent the housing opposite end as said sub-.assembly is moved toward the cylinder, said sub-assembly including means extending through said slot for connecting the anchor sleeve to the slide plate to move therewith.

4. The .apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that said sheaves have substantially parallel axes of rotation,that each of said runs have straight length por tions, that the straight length portions of the first and Athird runs lie in a common pla-ne substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the piston rod sheave and that the piston rod is joined to said slide plate about 2/3 of the transverse distance from the second run to the third run.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that said support member is an elongated truck -bed having a front end portion and a rear end portion, said piston rod sheave being adjacent the rear end portion and the cylinder sheave adjacent the front end portion, that a sheave is mounted for rotation on the truck bed first end portion, said third run extending partially .around the last mentioned sheave, and said load end portion being ex- -tended partially around the last mentioned sheave and joined to third run at said last mentioned sheave.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further characterized in that said housing has a wall adjacent said slide wall, said Wall having transversely spaced wall portions generally planar to said slide plate and a V trough portion having an apex outwardly of said planar portions joining said planar portions, said piston rod in an extended position at least in part located in said V trough portion.

7. Winch apparatus for pulling a load onto a support member comprising an axially elongated, two way acting piston cylinder combination including a cylinder having a first end and a second end, and an extendable and retractable piston rod extending outwardly of said cylinder second end, cylinder sheave of a larger diameter than said cylinder, means for rotatably mounting said cylinder sheave at the first cylinder end to extend transversely outward on opposite transverse sides of the cylinder, an axially elongated cable run housing having a first end and a second end and a first compartment and a second compartment extending between said housing ends, means for mounting the housing first end on the cylinder second end to have the piston rod movably extended into said first compartment, a pulley sheave subassembly slidably mounted in said compartment and connected to the piston rod for movement therewith, said compartments having a common axially elongated slot, and said sub-assembly having a portion extended through said slot, an anchor sleeve in the second compartment joined to said portion, a piston rod sheave in the first compartment and slide means connected to said portion for journaling said piston rod sheave for rotation, a winch cable of a greater diameter than the transverse dimension of said slot, an anchor in the second compartment of a size and sh-ape to stoppingly abut against said anchor sleeve, and `a cable having a load end portion and an end in the second compartment joined to said anchor to move therewith, then extending through said sleeve, next over said cylinder sheave and then back into the first compartment and reversely looped around the pist-on rod sheave, thence toward said cylinder sheave and subsequently joined to said load attaching end portion, and means for mounting said housing and cylinder sheave mounting means on the support member, said piston rod in moving to an extended position moving said sub-assembly toward the housing second end and thereby moving said anchor and the cable at the piston rod sheave toward said housing second end to extend the cable within the housing, and in retracting leaving the cable in an extended condition within said housing, said anchor being of a size and shape to brake against the second compartment as the piston rod and thereby the sub-assembly are retracted to hold the anchor end of the cable in an extended condition as long as no substantial pulling force is exerted on the cable load end portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that said means for mounting the housing on the cylinder has a first and second aperture opening to said first compartment and spaced approximately the same distance as the diameter of the piston rod sheave and a third aperture opening to the second compartment in axial :alignment wi-th said sleeve, said cable having a run extending into said housing through each of said apertures.

9. Apparatus for pulling a load toward a longitudinally elongated support member comprising a first sheave, means for rotatably mountingly attaching said first sheave to the support member to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the direction of elongation of said support member, an elongated cable housing having a first end and a second end, means for attaching said housing to the support member to have its direction of elongation pass adjacent said first sheave and substantially spaced therefrom with the first end more closely adjacent said first sheave than the second end, a pulley sheave subassembly slidably positioned in the housing and adapted for movement within the housing from adjacent the housing first end to adjacent the housing second end, said sub-assembly having a second sheave journ-aled lfor rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the first sheave, an elongated winch cable having a load attaching end portion and an opposite end, an anchor on said opposite end, said cable having its opposite end within the housing, then having a first portion extending from such cable opposite end to the first sheave to pass thereover, thence a second portion into the h-ousing and looped around the second sheave in a plane of the second sheave that is perpendicular to its axis of rotation, next a third portion extended along the above mentioned cable portion in spaced-adjacent relationship relative thereto, and thence being joined to said load .attaching portion, elongated means extending between and joined to the first sheave mounting means and the housing first end for selectively moving said sub-assembly between a position adjacent the housing first end yand a position adjacent the housing second end, said sub-assembly having means cooperating with said cable opposite end portion and anchor for moving them toward the housing opposite end as the sub-assembly is moved toward said housing opposite end and movable relative said cable end portion and anchor as the sub-assembly is moved toward the housing first end, said housing having means for cooperating with the `anchor to retain the anchor in a substantially stationary condition as the sub-assembly is moving toward the housing first end as long las no substantial pulling -force is exerted on the load attaching portion and also to maintain the remainder of the cable within the housing out of engagement with said first portion, s-aid cable being of sufficient rigidity that the second `and third portions substantially remain in their relative positions in housing that they are moved to by the second sheave moving toward the housing second end even though the sub-assembly is again moved toward the housing first end until a substantial pulling force is exerted on the load attaching end.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further characterized in that the means for selectively moving said sub-assembly includes Ia two-way acting piston cylinder combination having an axially elongated `cylinder and a piston rod joined to said sub-assembly, said cylinder having one end joined to the first sheave mounting means and an opposite end joined to said housing with the piston rod extending therethrough into said housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 10` further characterized in that the cylinder opposite end is joined to said housing by an end br-acket having three spaced cable guide apertures, e-ach of the first, second and third cable portions being extended through one of said apertures into the housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 10` further characterized in that each of the first, second and third cable portions has a relative straight length, the first and third straight length portions being located substantially in a plane on one transverse side of the cylinder and the second straight length portion being located substantially in a plane parallel to the rst mentioned plane on the opposite transverse side of the cylinder.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further characterized in that the piston rod has a central elongated axis substantially parallel to said plane and is connected to the sub-assembly with its axis lying in a plane perpendicular to the first mentioned plane and that intersects said first mentioned plane substantially midway between the first and third str-aight length portions.

14. Winch apparatus for pulling a load ont-o a supporting mem-ber comprising an axially elongated, two way acting piston cylinder combination, said combination including a cylinder having a first end and a second end -and a piston rod extending axially outwardly of said second end, for movement between an extended position `and a retracted position, means connected to the cylinder for mounting the cylinder on the support member, the above mentioned means including a cylinder sheave rotatably mounted at the first end of the cylinder, an axially elongated cable run housing having one end attached to the second end of the cylinder with the piston rod slidably extended therein, and an opposite end portion, means for ,attaching said housing to the support member, a pulley sheave sub-assembly within the housing Iand connected to the piston rod to move therewith, and a winch cable extended around said sheaves and within the housing to have a three to one cable ratio, said cable having a load attaching end -and an opposite anchor end in the housing, said housing -and sub-assembly having means cooperatively coacting with the cable for extending the cable within the housing .and thereby retract the load end toward the cylinder sheave as the piston rod is moved toward its extended position and then to leave the cable in the housing in 'an extended condition as the piston rod retracts as long .as no substantial pulling force is exerted on the load attaching end.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further characterized in that said cylinder sheave `and said sub-assembly Yare substantially spaced from one another in a horizontal direction.

No references cited.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner. HARVEY C. HORNSBY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. WINCH APPARATUS FOR PULLING A LOAD ONTO A SUPPORT MEMBER COMPRISING AN AXIALLY ELONGATED, TWO WAY ACTING PISTON CYLINDER COMBINATION, SAID COMBINATION INCLUDING A CYLINDER HAVING A FIRST END AND A SECOND END AND A PISTON ROD EXTENDING AXIALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID SECOND END, MEANS CONNECTED TO THE CYLINDER FOR MOUNTING THE CYLINDER ON THE SUPPORT MEMBER, THE ABOVE MENTIONED MEANS INCLUDING A CYLINDER SHEAVE ROTATABLY MOUNTED AT THE FIRST END OF THE CYLINDER, AN AXIALLY ELONGATED CABLE RUN HOUSING HAVING ONE END ATTACHED TO THE SECOND END OF THE CYLINDER WITH THE PISTON ROD SLIDABLY EXTENDED THEREON AND AN OPPOSITE END PORTION, MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAID HOUSING TO THE SUPPORT MEMBER, A PULLEY SHEAVE SUB-ASSEMBLY SLIDABLY LOCATED WITHIN SAID HOUSING FOR MOVEMENT FROM ONE AXIAL END OF THE HOUSING TO THE OTHER AND HAVING A PISTON ROD SHEAVE, SAID SUBASSEMBLY BEING CONNECTED TO THE END OF THE PISTON ROD OPPOSITE THE CYLINDER FIRST END AND A WINCH CABLE HAVING ONE PORTION ATTACHABLE WITH THE LOAD AND AN OPPOSITE CABLE END PORTION WITHIN THE HOUSING SAID CABLE INCLUDING A FIRST RUN HAVING SAID OPPOSITE CABLE END PORTION AND EXTENDED PARTIALLY AROUND THE CYLINDER SHEAVE, A SECOND RUN HAVING ONE END JOINED TO THE FIRST RUN ADJACENT THE CYLINDER SHEAVE AND EXTENDED PARTIALLY AROUND THE PISTON ROD SHEAVE AND A THIRD RUN HAVING ONE END PORTION JOINED TO THE SECOND RUN ADJACENT THE PISTON ROD SHEAVE, THENCE EXTENDING TOWARD THE CYLINDER SHEAVE AND AN OPPOSITE END JOINED TO THE LOAD ATTACHABLE PORTION, SAID SUB-ASSEMBLY AND OPPOSITE CABLE END PORTION HAVING COOPERATING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID OPPOSITE CABLE END PORTION TOWARD THE HOUSING OPPOSITE END PORTIONS AS SAID SUB-ASSEMBLY IS MOVED TOWARD SAID HOUSING OPPOSITE END PORTION TO THEREBY MOVE THE CABLE LOAD END PORTION TOWARD THE CYLINDER SHEAVE. 